“Kashmir Can Be Among Top States By 2029,” Says Shah As He Flags Off Vande Bharat Express

"With the scrapping of Article 370, Kashmir has become a part of India like the other states," Shah said.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah flags off the semi -high-speed train Vande Bharat Express, from the New Delhi Railway Station, in New Delhi, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019. Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Union Minister of State (independent charge) for PMO Jitendra Singh are also seen. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist )(PTI10_3_2019_000033B)

New Delhi: After flagging off the second semi-high speech indigenous Vande Bharat train on Thursday, Home Minister Amit Shah said that Kashmir would be in the list of most developed Indian states in the next decade. He hailed the Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi To Katra in Jammu and Kashmir as the beginning in that direction. Said Article 370 was a roadblock in the development of Jammu and Kashmir and that the journey of development in the region would begin with the launch of Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express. "With the scrapping of Article 370, Kashmir has become a part of India like the other states," he said. The Minister said Article 370, which was scrapped on August 5, was not only a hurdle in country's unity and integrity, but also the biggest obstacle in the development of Jammu and Kashmir, which has now been bifurcated into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one. Shah who was accompanied by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Harsh Vardhan, flagged off the train from New Delhi Railway Station. The ministers said the twin moves of the government -- abrogation of Article 370 provisions in J-K and launch of Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express - will bring new India to new Jammu and Kashmir and create a new history for the region.